Bandit 600 rear wheel alignment, struggling for accuracy

[designermatt]

I have been trying to set up the rear wheel alignment on my bandit 600 '98 , but I have not been able to accurately set it up, ive tried :

THe string method where you tie a piece of string around back wheel then run it down past the front and
measure against front wheel. But I just couldnt get this any way accurate enough.

Ive tried measuring from th swingarm to the rear axle and when I adjust its just not working

I have tried taking the adjusters all the way out and winding in the same amount of turns but didnt work.

The notches on the swingarm are useless because there is so much play between the axle and brackets they just slide about.

The reason I think its out is because theres a high pitched whirring coming from the front sprocket that wasnt before. Chain and sprockets are in good condition and lubed etc...

Has anyone done this on b600 before and got it bang on ???

advice much appreciated

Edited by designermatt on Friday 24th March 21:16

[Birky_41]

Measure a point from the spindle to a section of the rear swing arm on both sides and have them the same on both sides... Job done

Don't bother with them markings, not the first time I've had or read about them being out

[alfan]

Loosen the brake torque arm bolt at the brake caliper end ,also check chain tension at its tighest spot and adjust accordingly

[Ed.]

I started getting paranoid about wheel alignment on my last bike. The alignment laser pointer I bought didn't really help so I measured the spindle to the the front of the slide hole with digital vernier callipers then checked it on another point on the swingarm when tight.

[abarber]

Get a straight bar at least 2m lomg and put it across the rear wheel and measure the distance from the front tyre like the string method. Or borrow a bar from your mot place.

[catso]

I've got a clamp-on alignment tool like this;



I use it on the Monster as that munches (Monster Munch?) chains & sprockets at an alarming rate (my other bikes don't need it) and it is easy enough to use although need to take the chain guard off to do a proper job.

[designermatt]

catso said:

I've got a clamp-on alignment tool like this;



I use it on the Monster as that munches (Monster Munch?) chains & sprockets at an alarming rate (my other bikes don't need it) and it is easy enough to use although need to take the chain guard off to do a proper job.

Are these reliable, So do you screw it onto the rear sprocket and then look down to the front sprocket and adjust alignment whilst its on? Or do you look at if this bar sits in the middle of the chain and adjust to that?

Just my 2 cents, no bike should go through chains and sprockets quickly , I would have thought this would indicate something wrong?

Tomorrow I will measure from the centre of the spindle to a selected point on the swing arm, and see if I can get a accurate measurement this way.

If this doesnt work i will look at getting a laser or this sprocket alignment tool

[designermatt]

First pic is how it was, I think the rear sprocket is pointing to the left of the bike, and in the second picture I have adjusted it by eye to be as straight as I can get it.

However before and after their is quite a whirring noise still coming from the front sprocket, is this normal on bikes/bandits, Im fairly new to biking.

Also chain is lubed and cleaned regularly.

[Jazoli]

It looks fine in the second pic, a whirring noise is quite normal for a lot of bikes, also if an aftermarket or pattern replacement front sprocket has been fitted they can be noisier than the original sprockets which have a rubber damper on them, which aftermarket ones very rarely do.

You should be wearing earplugs anyway, which as an added benefit will make the noise disappear.

[catso]

designermatt said:

Are these reliable, So do you screw it onto the rear sprocket and then look down to the front sprocket and adjust alignment whilst its on? Or do you look at if this bar sits in the middle of the chain and adjust to that?

Bar runs along the edge of the chain, you have to do it by eye. Accurately measuring from swingarm pivot to axle gives the same results but this is easier to watch whilst adjusting - I check by both ways when adjusting.

[Prof Prolapse]

Jazoli said:

It looks fine in the second pic, a whirring noise is quite normal for a lot of bikes, also if an aftermarket or pattern replacement front sprocket has been fitted they can be noisier than the original sprockets which have a rubber damper on them, which aftermarket ones very rarely do.

I've just realized after about 2 years that is exactly the noise my CBR started making after I changed the front sprocket for a cheap aftermarket one (with no rubber).

I remember I spent ages trying to work that out, thank you!

[powerstans]

Silly question but are you checking the chain tension with the bike weighted? If you are adjusting the chain with it on the side stand un weighted and then riding it you may find that the chain is over stretched which could be causing the whirring sound.
If it is to tight you could end up with chain failure.

[Jazoli]

powerstans said:

Silly question but are you checking the chain tension with the bike weighted? If you are adjusting the chain with it on the side stand un weighted and then riding it you may find that the chain is over stretched which could be causing the whirring sound.
If it is to tight you could end up with chain failure.

Chain tension should be checked as per the bikes user manual, which for a Bandit is on the sidestand

[powerstans]

It was only a suggestion as I had exactly the same colour bandit 600 as my first bike, got to admit can't remember the user manual instructions but I did find the chain very tight when set up on the side stand and then weighted.

[Momentofmadness]

http://www.maxtonsuspension.co.uk/files/wheelalign...